USA Dominate Netherlands with All-Round Show to Seal Historic T20I Victory

Chennai, Feb 2026 : The United States delivered a commanding all-round performance to crush the Netherlands by 93 runs, registering their first-ever T20 International win over the Dutch in a Group A encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

Asked to bat first, the USA put on an imposing display with the bat, piling up 196 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was built around a composed and authoritative knock from Saiteja Mukkamalla, who top-scored with a classy 79, while Shubham Ranjane provided the late acceleration that pushed the total close to the 200-run mark.

The Americans started positively despite an early setback when opener Shayan Jahangir departed cheaply. Captain Monank Patel and Mukkamalla steadied the innings with a fluent partnership, rotating strike smartly and punishing loose deliveries. Monank played with intent during his brisk 36 off 22 balls, striking the ball cleanly before falling to a well-disguised slower delivery.

From there, Mukkamalla took complete control of the innings. Showing maturity beyond his years, he balanced caution with aggression, finding gaps in the field and clearing the ropes with ease. He brought up his half-century in style with a towering six and continued to dominate the bowling attack. His 51-ball 79, laced with five boundaries and four maximums, ensured the USA maintained a strong scoring rate through the middle overs.

The finishing touches were applied by Ranjane, who unleashed a late assault in the death overs. His unbeaten 48 off just 24 balls lifted the tempo dramatically, with the USA plundering 48 runs in the final four overs. For the Netherlands, Bas de Leede stood out with the ball, claiming three wickets, but overall the Dutch attack struggled to contain the sustained pressure.

Chasing a stiff target of 197, the Netherlands were immediately put on the back foot. Nosthush Kenjige struck with the very first ball of the innings, removing Michael Levitt and setting the tone for a disciplined bowling effort. Although de Leede and Max O’Dowd attempted to rebuild, the rising required run rate forced them into risky shots.

The decisive blow came from left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh, who turned the match firmly in the USA’s favour. Making full use of the surface, Harmeet varied his pace cleverly and extracted sharp turn, dismissing O’Dowd and de Leede in quick succession. His excellent spell of 4 for 21 shattered the backbone of the Dutch chase.

Support came from Shadley van Schalkwyk and Mohammad Mohsin, who struck at regular intervals as the Netherlands’ middle order collapsed. Captain Scott Edwards tried to revive hopes with a quick 20, but his dismissal further deepened the crisis.

With wickets tumbling and the asking rate spiralling, the Netherlands were eventually bowled out for 103 in just 15.5 overs. The comprehensive victory underlined the USA’s growing stature in international cricket and showcased their depth in both batting and bowling.

Brief Scores:
USA 196/6 in 20 overs (Saiteja Mukkamalla 79, Shubham Ranjane 48*; Bas de Leede 3-37)
Netherlands 103 all out in 15.5 overs (Bas de Leede 23, Scott Edwards 20; Harmeet Singh 4-21, Shadley van Schalkwyk 3-21)
USA won by 93 runs